The 2012 NHL Draft was held this past weekend in Pittsburgh. Of all the hockey games and events I attend during the season the draft is one of my favorites because it's a who's who of hockey all located in one place.
Kids who have been playing hockey since they were Pee-Wee's get a chance to realize their lifelong dreams while NHL teams not only have a chance to set their core of talent on their roster for years to come but trades are made that can help out a franchise immediately.
I was planning on going to Pittsburgh for the draft but real life intervened and I wasn't unable to make it out there. I was able to watch and here were a few things that caught my attention.
Edmonton select Nail Yakupov 1st overall:
This one isn't a big surprise since Yakupov was the top ranked player going into the draft. For any other team this would have been a no-brainer.
However, while Edmonton has a wealth of talent at forward they are pretty thin on defense. There was speculation before the draft that Edmonton would trade down to select defenseman Ryan Murray from the Everett Silvertips or defenseman Griffin Reinhart from the Edmonton Oil Kings.
While I do believe the Oilers did shop the top pick around they decided in the end to take the best player in the draft. Murray or Rinehart would have filled a need but with adding Yakupov to a core of forwards that includes, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Sam Gagner Edmonton has the makings of two top lines that can score at will.
Rick Nash and Roberto Luongo stay put, for now:
Going into the draft I felt there was a good chance that Rick Nash would be dealt because Columbus needs an infusion of talent and extra draft picks would be valuable for the Blue Jackets.
Instead the only deal Columbus GM Scott Howson made was trading three draft picks to Philadelphia for Sergei Bobrovsky. The addition of Bobrovsky gives the Blue Jackets a slight upgrade in goal however the bigger issue is that Nash still remains on the roster.
Nash has six years left on his deal so there is no rush for Howson to deal him. However when a player requests a trade it is in the best interest of the team to resolve this as soon as possible. With Howson holding out for a king's ransom it doesn't look like a deal for Nash will happen anytime soon.
My guess is once Zach Parise decides where he is playing next season whatever team misses out on him will begin making a play for Nash.
As for Luongo the team that has shown the most interest in is the Toronto Maple Leafs. A deal has yet to be reached though because Vancouver and Toronto can't agree on compensation.
It should also be mentioned that Vancouver GM Mike Gillis and Toronto GM Brian Burke don't exchange Christmas cards if you know what I mean.
What you have here is a classic case of gamesmanship here where Burke says he's in no rush to get a goalie until October while Gillis says he will make a hockey deal not a CBA deal when he trades Luongo.
If that is Gillis's intention he better sign RFA goaltender Cory Schneider before another team signs him to an offer sheet. If that happens it will be very pricey to keep both and it could force Gillis to make a CBA deal instead of a hockey deal.
Jordan Staal traded to Carolina:
One day before the draft Staal turned down a 10 year extension to stay with the Penguins. Speculation was he would leave Pittsburgh at the end of the season and sign with Carolina.
Instead of losing Staal for nothing Penguins GM Ray Shero was proactive trading Staal to Carolina for forward Brandon Sutter, defenseman Brian Dumoulin and the 8th pick in the 2012 draft which turned out to be defenseman Derrick Pouliot.
When this deal was announced the analysts at the NHL Draft praised this as a great hockey deal. While it is a good hockey deal this move was made only because Staal turned down the extension.
Shero didn't want to make this trade but with Staal forcing his hand I thought he did a great job in getting Sutter who will fill Staal's role on the team and two young defenseman on a team that really could use an upgrade on defense.
Meanwhile Staal gets a chance to not only break out of the shadow of Crosby and Malkin but he gets an opportunity to play with his brother Eric as well in Carolina.
The last couple of months the Hurricanes were always mentioned as one of those teams to keep an eye on when July 1st comes around. Now that they have Staal I'm not sure how active they will be when free agency starts. I do know that by acquiring Jordan Staal it will be easier to sell potential free agents about playing hockey in Raleigh, North Carolina.
One more thing that needs to be mentioned about this deal. By trading Staal the Penguins have about $14 million in cap space to work with when free agency starts.
That could be enough to make a run at Zach Parise or Ryan Suter. Just something to keep an eye on.
Flyers trade van Riemsdyk to Maple Leafs for Schenn:
One day after Jordan Staal was traded to Carolina to play with his brother Eric, Philadelphia and Toronto decided to get into the act when the Flyers acquired defenseman Luke Schenn from the Maple Leafs in exchange for forward James van Riemsdyk.
This was a deal that was rumored back as early as January and at the time it was thought that a combination of draft picks/prospects/players from either side would have to be added for this deal to occur. Instead it turns out to be a straight up player for player trade.
With the future of Chris Pronger in doubt because of a concussion Philadelphia has been looking for ways to fill that void on the blueline. Schenn, who was the 5th pick in the 2008 draft, is a defensive defenseman who is a big hitter and he patterns his game after Pronger. Being reunited with his brother Brayden in Philadelphia this is a good pick up for the Flyers.
In return Toronto gets van Riemsdyk who was the 2nd pick in the 2007 draft. He is a big power forward that brings much needed size up front to the Maple Leafs. He is the type of player Brian Burke loves. The hope is van Riemsdyk can do for Toronto what Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf did in Anaheim when Burke was the GM.
Personally I think the Maple Leafs got the better of the deal only because I think van Riemsdyk is a better hockey player than Schenn. However this is a good trade for both teams as both players should flourish with their new hockey club.
Bobby Ryan leaving Anaheim?:
For about the last year there have been rumors about Ducks forward Bobby Ryan being available via trade. Those rumors started to resurface again over the weekend only this time we heard from someone about these rumors that we hadn't heard from yet.
Ducks forward Bobby Ryan.
Frustrated with his name being floated around Ryan had this to say.
"I take things personally, Anaheim to me has been a team
over the past year that really has shown me nothing to prove that they
want me here, unfortunately. Obviously, it's not the ideal situation.
When you get drafted, you want to win championships with that team and
every time they look to add a piece to the puzzle, I'm the piece going
the other way."
Ryan then went on to say.
"I gotta be honest with you. At this point, I don't care. Move me …
because it's just tough going to the rink every day knowing that if
something goes wrong, you're going to be the guy moved."
As for possible destinations the one team Ryan mentioned he would like to go to is the Philadelphia Flyers. That's not a surprise. Ryan grew up a Flyers fan in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and his dad is good friends with Flyers great Bobby Clarke.
Whether Ryan ends up in the City of Brotherly love remains to be seen but with Philadelphia trading James van Riemsdyk they do have a need for a power forward.
The Flyers were mentioned as a possible destination for Rick Nash. With van Riemsdyk being traded Nash to Philadelphia looks unlikely. However I think Ryan to the Flyers is a strong possibility.
One thing here looks certain, Ryan days as a Duck appear to be numbered.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Summer in the NHL: A Look Ahead At The Off-Season
With the NHL Draft taking place in Pittsburgh on Friday night that can only mean one thing. The NHL off-season is officially underway.
If you like a flurry of transactions, rumors and activity then the next three weeks should be entertaining as all 30 teams try to improve themselves before the start of the 2012-2013 season.
Here is a list of things to keep your eye on in this summer.
The Sale of The Phoenix Coyotes:
Yes, I know that this has been an ongoing topic for the last couple years and yes I know the storyline is the same with the cast of characters changing each time it's retold.
But as long as it's on the table this story can't be ignored. Especially when whatever happens with Phoenix effects what happens with how the NHL teams are realigned.
Former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison is in line right now to purchase the struggling franchise. He is the third person to attempt to purchase the franchise and keep them in Arizona since former owner Jerry Moyes filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Numerous issues with the lease at Jobing.com Arena, the Glendale City Council & the Goldwater Institute have made purchasing the Coyotes a nightmare. The NHL has done everything they can to keep the franchise in the desert.
With the schedule being released earlier today the Coyotes will be in Phoenix for another season. If Jamison can get a deal done then this saga will end. If Jamison fails you have to wonder if the NHL will finally throw up their hands in frustration and start looking for a buyer outside of Phoenix.
Tim Thomas's Sabbatical:
One story that happened during the Stanley Cup Playoffs that I didn't get a chance to write about is Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas announcing on Facebook that he is taking a year off to spend time with his family.
I can't really blame him. After the playoff run he had in 2011 and the controversy surrounding him after not going to the White House to see the President a little time away isn't a bad thing.
What I found interesting is he has every intention of coming back in 2013-2014 and playing in goal for Boston as well as playing for Team USA in the Winter Olympics.
OK then.
If Thomas does indeed sit out the year he will be 39 when he returns to the NHL. For most players that is considered the twilight of their career. If I was Bruins GM Peter Charelli I would feel better if Thomas was 29 instead.
With Thomas gone the job in net will fall to Tuukka Rask who has the tools and skill set to be a number one goaltender. However he is also best remembered for being the goaltender when Boston blew a 3-0 series lead against Philadelphia in 2010.
This coming season Rask will have every opportunity to show he is capable of being the man in net. If he does succeed the question is what becomes of Thomas?
If Rask does stake claim to being the number one goaltender then I don't see any reason why the Bruins would bring Thomas back. And even though he has won a Stanley Cup I'm not sure what the trade market would be for a 39 year old goaltender.
I remember Dominik Hasek trying to make a comeback as a 38 year old goaltender after he retired back in 2003. His comeback didn't go as well as planned. I can't help but seeing the comparisons between Hasek and Thomas.
The other question is would Boston even want Thomas back? The core of the Bruins looks to be a pretty tight knit group. I could see some players looking at Thomas taking a year off as a sense of abandonment. His return could disrupt a good locker room much like Hasek did when he returned to Detroit in 2003-2004.
If Thomas didn't return to Boston I'm sure some team would take a chance on him as a Stanley Cup winning goaltender rarely become available. However there is no guarantee that Thomas in 2013-2014 would be as good as he was in 2011.
As for wanting to play in the 2014 Olympics, the NHL & the IIHF have yet to reach an agreement to send the NHL players over to Sochi. If no agreement is reached and NHL players do not take part in the Olympics it wouldn't surprise me if Thomas just plays in the Winter Games and doesn't return to the NHL.
The Trade Market:
The eve before the NHL draft usually kicks off the trading season as teams start better positioning themselves for next year.
At the trade deadline the big prize was Rick Nash. Columbus didn't receive an offer for him they liked so they held on to him. As the draft approaches Rick Nash is available again and this time more teams are interested as they have all summer to adjust their salary cap instead of just a couple days before the trade deadline.
I'm not going to try and narrow down the teams that are interested in Rick Nash. When a player like him becomes available all teams have an interest. What is comes down to is are you willing to pay the price to get a player like Nash.
My understanding is the asking price for Nash involves any combination of a goaltender, two impact players with one being a forward, prospects and draft picks.
That's a lot to ask for a player who has yet to win a post-season game.
GM Scott Howson has no choice but to ask for a kings ransom for Nash if he is going to rebuild the Blue Jackets. Howson may have a certain price in mind that is just below what he is asking for. By setting the bar high he just might get one team to meet the price he has in mind.
It's all part of the negotiations. By the end of the weekend Rick Nash should be elsewhere. Where that is remains to be seen.
The other name on the trade market that has my attention is Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo.
After being benched for Cory Schneider in Game 3 of the Canucks series against Los Angeles Luongo requested a trade. Vancouver looks to be more than willing to oblige as they would love nothing more than to shed that contract from their payroll.
However no NHL team is going to take on Luongo's contract without Vancouver taking back a high salary player in any deal that is reached.
The most common rumor being talked about is Luongo to Toronto for defenseman Mike Komisarek. From a contract standpoint that makes sense but more players or draft picks would have to be added to make it a fair deal.
I get the sense Vancouver would like to get this over with before July 1st as Schneider is a restricted free agent. Trading Luongo would free up salary so the Canucks can resign Schneider.
A couple other players who are being mentioned in trades are Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal and Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan.
Staal, who is a free agent after this upcoming season just turned down a ten year extension from the Penguins. At this time Pittsburgh isn't shopping Staal but GM Ray Shero is receiving a ton of phone calls about him.
As for Ryan, his name is being kicked around once again. What happens with Ryan may either be related to or effect what happens with Nash as both are young power forwards every team covets.
Free Agency:
If you want an impact player but don't have the pieces to trade to get that player then be prepared to open up your checkbook as free agency is the way to go.
The two big prizes on the market are Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter and New Jersey forward Zach Parise.
As to where both players are going to go I have no idea. Only the players and their agents know what they are looking for.
What I do know is the Detroit Red Wings have about $20 Million in cap space to spend and they have a huge hole on their blueline with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart going to San Jose. I have to believe they will do everything they can to get Suter.
As for where Parise will end up? If you have a lot of cap space, a need for a top six forward and are a legit Stanley Cup contender then you have an excellent chance to get Parise.
Because of issues with team ownership I'm not convinced he returns to New Jersey. If he does leave the Devils keep an eye on Detroit, Minnesota, Colorado, Carolina and Los Angeles.
The CBA:
Unfortunately everything I wrote about above may be irrelevant if a new CBA isn't reached.
The current deal expires on September 15th. Last month both sides had the option to extend it for another year or to renegotiate. The owners decided to renegotiate.
Because of this there is a threat of a work stoppage. However I don't believe it will be as bad as the one that cancelled the 2004-2005 NHL season.
The main issue during the 04-05 lockout was the implementation of a salary cap. The owners were going to get one no matter what. Even if it meant sacrificing a whole season.
This time around there is no overlaying issue like there was in 04-05. The main thing here looks to be how revenue is distributed between owners and players.
While the owners want to figure out a better way to redistribute revenue the players want to be treated as equal partners in negotiations. That's why realignment was shelved for a year.
What causes me concern is the NHLPA is now being led by Donald Fehr. Yes, the same Donald Fehr that led the MLBPA during the 1994 strike that cancelled the World Series.
He is stubborn but known for getting everything he can for his players. If you are an NHLPA member you want him on your side. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman can be just as stubborn though.
Negotiations between Fehr and Bettman could make negotiations between Bettman and previous NHLPA head Bob Goodenow in 04-05 look like a playground disagreement.
While I would like to be optimistic that a deal is reached before training camp it doesn't look likely at this moment as neither side has begun labor negotiations.
But with business being good for the NHL and the shadow of the 04-05 lockout still hovering over the sport the last thing needed is a long work stoppage and both sides know that.
Something tells me a deal will be reached and there will be a season. It may not start until Thanksgiving but there will be a season.
After all too much is at stake to sacrifice another year.
If you like a flurry of transactions, rumors and activity then the next three weeks should be entertaining as all 30 teams try to improve themselves before the start of the 2012-2013 season.
Here is a list of things to keep your eye on in this summer.
The Sale of The Phoenix Coyotes:
Yes, I know that this has been an ongoing topic for the last couple years and yes I know the storyline is the same with the cast of characters changing each time it's retold.
But as long as it's on the table this story can't be ignored. Especially when whatever happens with Phoenix effects what happens with how the NHL teams are realigned.
Former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison is in line right now to purchase the struggling franchise. He is the third person to attempt to purchase the franchise and keep them in Arizona since former owner Jerry Moyes filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Numerous issues with the lease at Jobing.com Arena, the Glendale City Council & the Goldwater Institute have made purchasing the Coyotes a nightmare. The NHL has done everything they can to keep the franchise in the desert.
With the schedule being released earlier today the Coyotes will be in Phoenix for another season. If Jamison can get a deal done then this saga will end. If Jamison fails you have to wonder if the NHL will finally throw up their hands in frustration and start looking for a buyer outside of Phoenix.
Tim Thomas's Sabbatical:
One story that happened during the Stanley Cup Playoffs that I didn't get a chance to write about is Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas announcing on Facebook that he is taking a year off to spend time with his family.
I can't really blame him. After the playoff run he had in 2011 and the controversy surrounding him after not going to the White House to see the President a little time away isn't a bad thing.
What I found interesting is he has every intention of coming back in 2013-2014 and playing in goal for Boston as well as playing for Team USA in the Winter Olympics.
OK then.
If Thomas does indeed sit out the year he will be 39 when he returns to the NHL. For most players that is considered the twilight of their career. If I was Bruins GM Peter Charelli I would feel better if Thomas was 29 instead.
With Thomas gone the job in net will fall to Tuukka Rask who has the tools and skill set to be a number one goaltender. However he is also best remembered for being the goaltender when Boston blew a 3-0 series lead against Philadelphia in 2010.
This coming season Rask will have every opportunity to show he is capable of being the man in net. If he does succeed the question is what becomes of Thomas?
If Rask does stake claim to being the number one goaltender then I don't see any reason why the Bruins would bring Thomas back. And even though he has won a Stanley Cup I'm not sure what the trade market would be for a 39 year old goaltender.
I remember Dominik Hasek trying to make a comeback as a 38 year old goaltender after he retired back in 2003. His comeback didn't go as well as planned. I can't help but seeing the comparisons between Hasek and Thomas.
The other question is would Boston even want Thomas back? The core of the Bruins looks to be a pretty tight knit group. I could see some players looking at Thomas taking a year off as a sense of abandonment. His return could disrupt a good locker room much like Hasek did when he returned to Detroit in 2003-2004.
If Thomas didn't return to Boston I'm sure some team would take a chance on him as a Stanley Cup winning goaltender rarely become available. However there is no guarantee that Thomas in 2013-2014 would be as good as he was in 2011.
As for wanting to play in the 2014 Olympics, the NHL & the IIHF have yet to reach an agreement to send the NHL players over to Sochi. If no agreement is reached and NHL players do not take part in the Olympics it wouldn't surprise me if Thomas just plays in the Winter Games and doesn't return to the NHL.
The Trade Market:
The eve before the NHL draft usually kicks off the trading season as teams start better positioning themselves for next year.
At the trade deadline the big prize was Rick Nash. Columbus didn't receive an offer for him they liked so they held on to him. As the draft approaches Rick Nash is available again and this time more teams are interested as they have all summer to adjust their salary cap instead of just a couple days before the trade deadline.
I'm not going to try and narrow down the teams that are interested in Rick Nash. When a player like him becomes available all teams have an interest. What is comes down to is are you willing to pay the price to get a player like Nash.
My understanding is the asking price for Nash involves any combination of a goaltender, two impact players with one being a forward, prospects and draft picks.
That's a lot to ask for a player who has yet to win a post-season game.
GM Scott Howson has no choice but to ask for a kings ransom for Nash if he is going to rebuild the Blue Jackets. Howson may have a certain price in mind that is just below what he is asking for. By setting the bar high he just might get one team to meet the price he has in mind.
It's all part of the negotiations. By the end of the weekend Rick Nash should be elsewhere. Where that is remains to be seen.
The other name on the trade market that has my attention is Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo.
After being benched for Cory Schneider in Game 3 of the Canucks series against Los Angeles Luongo requested a trade. Vancouver looks to be more than willing to oblige as they would love nothing more than to shed that contract from their payroll.
However no NHL team is going to take on Luongo's contract without Vancouver taking back a high salary player in any deal that is reached.
The most common rumor being talked about is Luongo to Toronto for defenseman Mike Komisarek. From a contract standpoint that makes sense but more players or draft picks would have to be added to make it a fair deal.
I get the sense Vancouver would like to get this over with before July 1st as Schneider is a restricted free agent. Trading Luongo would free up salary so the Canucks can resign Schneider.
A couple other players who are being mentioned in trades are Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal and Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan.
Staal, who is a free agent after this upcoming season just turned down a ten year extension from the Penguins. At this time Pittsburgh isn't shopping Staal but GM Ray Shero is receiving a ton of phone calls about him.
As for Ryan, his name is being kicked around once again. What happens with Ryan may either be related to or effect what happens with Nash as both are young power forwards every team covets.
Free Agency:
If you want an impact player but don't have the pieces to trade to get that player then be prepared to open up your checkbook as free agency is the way to go.
The two big prizes on the market are Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter and New Jersey forward Zach Parise.
As to where both players are going to go I have no idea. Only the players and their agents know what they are looking for.
What I do know is the Detroit Red Wings have about $20 Million in cap space to spend and they have a huge hole on their blueline with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart going to San Jose. I have to believe they will do everything they can to get Suter.
As for where Parise will end up? If you have a lot of cap space, a need for a top six forward and are a legit Stanley Cup contender then you have an excellent chance to get Parise.
Because of issues with team ownership I'm not convinced he returns to New Jersey. If he does leave the Devils keep an eye on Detroit, Minnesota, Colorado, Carolina and Los Angeles.
The CBA:
Unfortunately everything I wrote about above may be irrelevant if a new CBA isn't reached.
The current deal expires on September 15th. Last month both sides had the option to extend it for another year or to renegotiate. The owners decided to renegotiate.
Because of this there is a threat of a work stoppage. However I don't believe it will be as bad as the one that cancelled the 2004-2005 NHL season.
The main issue during the 04-05 lockout was the implementation of a salary cap. The owners were going to get one no matter what. Even if it meant sacrificing a whole season.
This time around there is no overlaying issue like there was in 04-05. The main thing here looks to be how revenue is distributed between owners and players.
While the owners want to figure out a better way to redistribute revenue the players want to be treated as equal partners in negotiations. That's why realignment was shelved for a year.
What causes me concern is the NHLPA is now being led by Donald Fehr. Yes, the same Donald Fehr that led the MLBPA during the 1994 strike that cancelled the World Series.
He is stubborn but known for getting everything he can for his players. If you are an NHLPA member you want him on your side. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman can be just as stubborn though.
Negotiations between Fehr and Bettman could make negotiations between Bettman and previous NHLPA head Bob Goodenow in 04-05 look like a playground disagreement.
While I would like to be optimistic that a deal is reached before training camp it doesn't look likely at this moment as neither side has begun labor negotiations.
But with business being good for the NHL and the shadow of the 04-05 lockout still hovering over the sport the last thing needed is a long work stoppage and both sides know that.
Something tells me a deal will be reached and there will be a season. It may not start until Thanksgiving but there will be a season.
After all too much is at stake to sacrifice another year.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thanks For Playing: New Jersey Devils
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for
Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while
the other 15 teams can only think of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
How They Finished:
48-28-6 102 Points 4th in Atlantic Division, 6th in Eastern Conference. Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Los Angeles.
What Went Wrong:
You probably think I'm going to say the five minute boarding major committed by forward Steve Bernier is what cost New Jersey the Stanley Cup.
That penalty cost the Devils Game 6. What cost them the series was losing the first two games in overtime on home ice.
If you recall Los Angeles won Game 1 on a breakaway goal by Anze Kopitar. That scoring opportunity was created when two Devils went toward Kings forward Justin Williams, who had possession of the puck.
Williams was able to make a pass by both of them to Kopitar who beat Martin Brodeur for the game winner.
In Game 2 it was a bad line change which led to the game winning goal as Kings forward Jeff Carter was able to skate around, maintaining possession of the puck until he was able to shoot, beating Brodeur for the game winner.
Just think, if New Jersey was able to win both games in overtime they would have won the series in five games. Even a split at home would have forced a seventh game.
Instead because of two miscues Los Angeles was able to take the first two games of the series. When the Kings won Game 3 it became too big of a hole for the Devils to climb out of.
I applaud New Jersey for making it into a series but once again we found out how hard it is to rally from down 3-0 in a series.
Where Do They Go From Here:
To answer that question you need to focus on two players, Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise.
Brodeur turned 40 just last month. At a time when some people thought his best days were behind him Marty was able to turn back the clock and lead his team back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Brodeur is a unrestricted free agent this summer. Before anyone who is a fan of an NHL team with a goaltending problem starts dreaming of having Marty between the pipes I'm just going to stop you right now.
There is only one place Marty will play next year and that will be in New Jersey. The question is if he wants to play.
Brodeur has won three Stanley Cups and played in five finals. He has won the Vezina four times and the Jennings Trophy five times and he has the most wins of any goaltender in NHL history.
What Brodeur has to decide is does he still want to play. After falling two wins short I could see him coming back for another shot at his 4th Stanley Cup. I could also see him calling it a career after everything he's done.
There are a lot of things that will determine whether Brodeur comes back for another year. One of those things will be the status of team captain Zach Parise.
In case you have been living under a rock for the last few months Parise is the prize this year on the free agent market.
GM Lou Lamariello had a chance to trade Parise at the deadline but decided to hold on to him and make a run at the Stanley Cup. While New Jersey didn't win the cup Lamariello hunch was right on as they made it to the finals.
Now Lamariello has to try and re-sign Parise. I'll be surprised if he does it before July 1st as UFA's that are this close usually test the market.
New Jersey does have a projected $28 million dollars of cap space to work with. The problem is the squabbles that have gone on within the ownership group may take the Devils out of the Parise sweepstakes before it starts.
With Ilya Kovalchuk making just over $6.6 million for the next 13 years New Jersey might not be able to get into a bidding war with other teams once Parise hits the market.
The good news if you are a Devils fan is the emergence of rookie Adam Henrique this past season.
Henrique established himself as a Calder candidate finishing with 16 goals and 35 assist during the season. In the playoffs he finished with five goals and eight assist with two of those goals being game winners to clinch playoff series against Florida and New York.
Henrique has the makings of a star and will be a great player for the Devils to build around should Parise leave.
As for the rest of the team the only free agent I see New Jersey making a push to keep is Bryce Salvador. Salvador had nine points in 82 games during the regular season (0G, 9A) but had 14 points in 24 playoff games (4G, 10A)
His performance in the playoffs drove up his asking price but being a 36 year old defenseman New Jersey should be able to bring him back at a reasonable salary. The rest of the free agents on the Devils roster are hit or miss as to which ones will return and which ones will leave.
New Jersey surprised a lot of people by making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Playing in the toughest division in the NHL I'll be shocked if the Devils return to the finals next year.
Especially if Parise and Brodeur aren't back.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
How They Finished:
48-28-6 102 Points 4th in Atlantic Division, 6th in Eastern Conference. Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Los Angeles.
What Went Wrong:
You probably think I'm going to say the five minute boarding major committed by forward Steve Bernier is what cost New Jersey the Stanley Cup.
That penalty cost the Devils Game 6. What cost them the series was losing the first two games in overtime on home ice.
If you recall Los Angeles won Game 1 on a breakaway goal by Anze Kopitar. That scoring opportunity was created when two Devils went toward Kings forward Justin Williams, who had possession of the puck.
Williams was able to make a pass by both of them to Kopitar who beat Martin Brodeur for the game winner.
In Game 2 it was a bad line change which led to the game winning goal as Kings forward Jeff Carter was able to skate around, maintaining possession of the puck until he was able to shoot, beating Brodeur for the game winner.
Just think, if New Jersey was able to win both games in overtime they would have won the series in five games. Even a split at home would have forced a seventh game.
Instead because of two miscues Los Angeles was able to take the first two games of the series. When the Kings won Game 3 it became too big of a hole for the Devils to climb out of.
I applaud New Jersey for making it into a series but once again we found out how hard it is to rally from down 3-0 in a series.
Where Do They Go From Here:
To answer that question you need to focus on two players, Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise.
Brodeur turned 40 just last month. At a time when some people thought his best days were behind him Marty was able to turn back the clock and lead his team back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Brodeur is a unrestricted free agent this summer. Before anyone who is a fan of an NHL team with a goaltending problem starts dreaming of having Marty between the pipes I'm just going to stop you right now.
There is only one place Marty will play next year and that will be in New Jersey. The question is if he wants to play.
Brodeur has won three Stanley Cups and played in five finals. He has won the Vezina four times and the Jennings Trophy five times and he has the most wins of any goaltender in NHL history.
What Brodeur has to decide is does he still want to play. After falling two wins short I could see him coming back for another shot at his 4th Stanley Cup. I could also see him calling it a career after everything he's done.
There are a lot of things that will determine whether Brodeur comes back for another year. One of those things will be the status of team captain Zach Parise.
In case you have been living under a rock for the last few months Parise is the prize this year on the free agent market.
GM Lou Lamariello had a chance to trade Parise at the deadline but decided to hold on to him and make a run at the Stanley Cup. While New Jersey didn't win the cup Lamariello hunch was right on as they made it to the finals.
Now Lamariello has to try and re-sign Parise. I'll be surprised if he does it before July 1st as UFA's that are this close usually test the market.
New Jersey does have a projected $28 million dollars of cap space to work with. The problem is the squabbles that have gone on within the ownership group may take the Devils out of the Parise sweepstakes before it starts.
With Ilya Kovalchuk making just over $6.6 million for the next 13 years New Jersey might not be able to get into a bidding war with other teams once Parise hits the market.
The good news if you are a Devils fan is the emergence of rookie Adam Henrique this past season.
Henrique established himself as a Calder candidate finishing with 16 goals and 35 assist during the season. In the playoffs he finished with five goals and eight assist with two of those goals being game winners to clinch playoff series against Florida and New York.
Henrique has the makings of a star and will be a great player for the Devils to build around should Parise leave.
As for the rest of the team the only free agent I see New Jersey making a push to keep is Bryce Salvador. Salvador had nine points in 82 games during the regular season (0G, 9A) but had 14 points in 24 playoff games (4G, 10A)
His performance in the playoffs drove up his asking price but being a 36 year old defenseman New Jersey should be able to bring him back at a reasonable salary. The rest of the free agents on the Devils roster are hit or miss as to which ones will return and which ones will leave.
New Jersey surprised a lot of people by making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Playing in the toughest division in the NHL I'll be shocked if the Devils return to the finals next year.
Especially if Parise and Brodeur aren't back.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
HOCKEYWOOD: Kings Win First Stanley Cup
Going into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals the pressure was on the Los Angeles Kings.
They had a chance in Game 4 to sweep the New Jersey Devils and win the Stanley Cup on home ice. They failed to do so.
They had an opportunity to close out the series in five games on the road like they had in two of their three previous playoff series. They failed to do so.
A lot of thoughts had to be racing through the heads of the players on the Kings roster but one thought I guaranteed everyone had was they did not want to get on a plane and have to fly back to Newark for a Game 7.
Much like Game 5 both teams started out strong trying to established the tempo of the game. Shots were few and far between for the Devils while Martin Brodeur was turning away everything the Kings threw at him.
It was going take a significant event to swing momentum in favor of Los Angeles. Cue up Devils forward Steve Bernier.
There was some debate as to whether or not the call should have been a two minute minor or a five minute major. To me it's a no brainer. A boarding penalty is the most dangerous penalty a player can commit. In my mind all boarding calls should be five minute majors.
Bernier intent was to finish his check not to injure Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi. If Bernier would have just played the puck instead of the body there would have been no penalty. With Scuderi cut and bleeding as a result of the hit the official had no choice but to give Bernier a five minute major and a game misconduct.
With the penalty being called I felt the next five minutes would determine who would win the Stanley Cup. Would Brodeur continue to stop Los Angeles from scoring or would one of the Kings seize this opportunity.
Cue up Dustin Brown.
The Los Angeles captain hadn't scored a goal in the series and had only one point going into Game 6. In a series where the team scoring first had won every game, Brown's goal gave the Kings a 1-0 lead.
More importantly, because it was a major, Los Angeles still had over four minutes left on the power play. Nearly two minutes later Brown would strike again.
Jeff Carter was credited with the goal as he tipped past Brodeur in but Brown's shot on net is what set it up. With that Los Angeles had a 2-0 lead and the fear of every New Jersey fan was coming true.
At this point if I was Devils coach Pete DeBoer I would have used my time out to settle things down and gives the players a breather as they tried to finish killing off the penalty. DeBoer didn't use his timeout and it cost New Jersey.
Trevor Lewis backhanded goal gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead. In a post-season where the Kings have given up three goals only once it was going to be nearly impossible for the Devils to win this game. New Jersey had to score the next goal to even have a chance to get back in the game.
Instead Carter struck again.
That goal made it 4-0 Los Angeles. All that was left to do in Staples Center was count down the time to the eventual celebration.
Adam Henrique scored late in the 2nd period to get the Devils on the board but an empty net goal by Trevor Lewis and a wrist shot by Matt Greene gave the Kings a 6-1 lead.
With those final two goals for Los Angeles the celebration was on at Staples Center. I'll let Mike Emrick describe the final seconds as only he can.
If I ever win the lottery I would pay him to narrate my life for one day.
With the celebration underway it was time to hand out the hardware. First was The Conn Smythe Trophy to the MVP of the playoffs. That would go to Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Everytime I see the Conn Smythe Trophy I can't help but think it looks like the world's biggest paperweight.
Quick was well deserving of the award as he finished with a record of 16-4, a GAA of 1.41 and a save percentage of .946.
After that the moment Los Angeles fans had been waiting for since 1967 finally arrived. The presentation of Lord Stanley's Cup.
As a hockey fan that is a sight I never get tired of seeing.
With the presentation complete the Los Angeles Kings were officially Stanley Cup Champions.
Some people will think of the Kings as an unlikely champion because they were an number eight seed. However this team wasn't your traditional eight seed. The Kings had a chance to win the Pacific Division going into the final week of the season.
For the last couple years I felt Los Angeles was on the verge of joining the elite teams in the NHL. The front office has done a great job of drafting players starting with captain Dustin Brown in 2004.
Quick, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty were all drafted by the Kings while Justin Williams, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were all brought in via trade.
The acquisition of Carter along with the hiring of coach Darryl Sutter is what turned Los Angeles from just your typical eight seed into Stanley Cup Champions.
The scary thing for the rest of the NHL is the Kings, because of their draft picks and acquisitions have a core of players that should be good for years to come. Los Angeles will have just over $16 million in projected cap space going into next season. With Dustin Penner not expected back the Kings will have money to add a forward (Parise?)
With the players on their roster the thought of a repeat isn't too far-fetched. But Los Angeles fans aren't even thinking about that today. They are enjoying a championship that was 45 years in the making.
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings. 2012 Stanley Cup Champions.
They had a chance in Game 4 to sweep the New Jersey Devils and win the Stanley Cup on home ice. They failed to do so.
They had an opportunity to close out the series in five games on the road like they had in two of their three previous playoff series. They failed to do so.
A lot of thoughts had to be racing through the heads of the players on the Kings roster but one thought I guaranteed everyone had was they did not want to get on a plane and have to fly back to Newark for a Game 7.
Much like Game 5 both teams started out strong trying to established the tempo of the game. Shots were few and far between for the Devils while Martin Brodeur was turning away everything the Kings threw at him.
It was going take a significant event to swing momentum in favor of Los Angeles. Cue up Devils forward Steve Bernier.
There was some debate as to whether or not the call should have been a two minute minor or a five minute major. To me it's a no brainer. A boarding penalty is the most dangerous penalty a player can commit. In my mind all boarding calls should be five minute majors.
Bernier intent was to finish his check not to injure Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi. If Bernier would have just played the puck instead of the body there would have been no penalty. With Scuderi cut and bleeding as a result of the hit the official had no choice but to give Bernier a five minute major and a game misconduct.
With the penalty being called I felt the next five minutes would determine who would win the Stanley Cup. Would Brodeur continue to stop Los Angeles from scoring or would one of the Kings seize this opportunity.
Cue up Dustin Brown.
The Los Angeles captain hadn't scored a goal in the series and had only one point going into Game 6. In a series where the team scoring first had won every game, Brown's goal gave the Kings a 1-0 lead.
More importantly, because it was a major, Los Angeles still had over four minutes left on the power play. Nearly two minutes later Brown would strike again.
Jeff Carter was credited with the goal as he tipped past Brodeur in but Brown's shot on net is what set it up. With that Los Angeles had a 2-0 lead and the fear of every New Jersey fan was coming true.
At this point if I was Devils coach Pete DeBoer I would have used my time out to settle things down and gives the players a breather as they tried to finish killing off the penalty. DeBoer didn't use his timeout and it cost New Jersey.
Trevor Lewis backhanded goal gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead. In a post-season where the Kings have given up three goals only once it was going to be nearly impossible for the Devils to win this game. New Jersey had to score the next goal to even have a chance to get back in the game.
Instead Carter struck again.
That goal made it 4-0 Los Angeles. All that was left to do in Staples Center was count down the time to the eventual celebration.
Adam Henrique scored late in the 2nd period to get the Devils on the board but an empty net goal by Trevor Lewis and a wrist shot by Matt Greene gave the Kings a 6-1 lead.
With those final two goals for Los Angeles the celebration was on at Staples Center. I'll let Mike Emrick describe the final seconds as only he can.
If I ever win the lottery I would pay him to narrate my life for one day.
With the celebration underway it was time to hand out the hardware. First was The Conn Smythe Trophy to the MVP of the playoffs. That would go to Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Everytime I see the Conn Smythe Trophy I can't help but think it looks like the world's biggest paperweight.
Quick was well deserving of the award as he finished with a record of 16-4, a GAA of 1.41 and a save percentage of .946.
After that the moment Los Angeles fans had been waiting for since 1967 finally arrived. The presentation of Lord Stanley's Cup.
As a hockey fan that is a sight I never get tired of seeing.
With the presentation complete the Los Angeles Kings were officially Stanley Cup Champions.
Some people will think of the Kings as an unlikely champion because they were an number eight seed. However this team wasn't your traditional eight seed. The Kings had a chance to win the Pacific Division going into the final week of the season.
For the last couple years I felt Los Angeles was on the verge of joining the elite teams in the NHL. The front office has done a great job of drafting players starting with captain Dustin Brown in 2004.
Quick, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty were all drafted by the Kings while Justin Williams, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were all brought in via trade.
The acquisition of Carter along with the hiring of coach Darryl Sutter is what turned Los Angeles from just your typical eight seed into Stanley Cup Champions.
The scary thing for the rest of the NHL is the Kings, because of their draft picks and acquisitions have a core of players that should be good for years to come. Los Angeles will have just over $16 million in projected cap space going into next season. With Dustin Penner not expected back the Kings will have money to add a forward (Parise?)
With the players on their roster the thought of a repeat isn't too far-fetched. But Los Angeles fans aren't even thinking about that today. They are enjoying a championship that was 45 years in the making.
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings. 2012 Stanley Cup Champions.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Ladies & Gentleman, We Have A Series
Well this certainly got interesting.
On Wednesday night the Los Angeles Kings were in position to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a win over the New Jersey Devils.
Four days later the Kings are still waiting to claim the Stanley Cup while New Jersey won games four and five to force a game six and makes what looked to be a sweep into an intriguing series.
Game five had the best start to any of the previous games in the series as both teams looked to established the tempo and control the pace of the game.
Just as they did in game four it was New Jersey scoring the first goal of the game. Jonathan Quick had trouble handling the puck in front of his net and Devils captain Zach Parise took advantage of the situation.
That play right there is a prime example of why Parise will be the most sought after forward on the free agent market this summer.
The power play goal was Parise first point in the series and it gave the Devils a 1-0 lead. It also was New Jersey's first power play goal in 16 chances against Los Angeles in this series.
That lead would last until just over three minutes into the 2nd period when Kings forward Justin Williams got Los Angeles on the board with a wrist shot.
Williams hit the post with a shot earlier in the game. Watching him skate you just felt that he was due for a goal in this game.
The tie would last until just after the nine minute mark of the 2nd period when a shot by New Jersey defenseman Bryce Salvador would take a Devils bounce and get by Quick, giving them the lead.
The puck deflected off the shoulder of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov. It's the second time in this series a puck has deflected off of Voynov resulting in a New Jersey goal.
With the Devils in the lead it was time for goaltender Martin Brodeur to take control of the game and that's exactly what he did. Brodeur had 25 saves with his best being this stop on Kings forward Jarrett Stoll.
That right there is vintage Brodeur.
New Jersey would hold on to win 2-1, forcing a game six back in Los Angeles Monday night.
If you are a Kings fan it's too early to panic as Los Angeles is still in control of the series and can win the cup Monday night on home ice. If you presented that scenario to any Kings player before the series started they would take it.
However it looks like New Jersey has found a way to overcome the Kings forecheck that was suffocating them early in the series. More importantly the Devils are finding ways to get the puck by Quick.
New Jersey isn't putting many pucks past Quick but when you have Brodeur in net you only need to score a couple to have a chance to win.
Going into game five I thought the Devils had a puncher's chance in the series. They are still throwing punches and they are now landing them. If Los Angeles is to win the cup they better do it on Monday night.
The last thing the Kings want to do is travel to Newark on Wednesday for a game seven.
On Wednesday night the Los Angeles Kings were in position to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a win over the New Jersey Devils.
Four days later the Kings are still waiting to claim the Stanley Cup while New Jersey won games four and five to force a game six and makes what looked to be a sweep into an intriguing series.
Game five had the best start to any of the previous games in the series as both teams looked to established the tempo and control the pace of the game.
Just as they did in game four it was New Jersey scoring the first goal of the game. Jonathan Quick had trouble handling the puck in front of his net and Devils captain Zach Parise took advantage of the situation.
That play right there is a prime example of why Parise will be the most sought after forward on the free agent market this summer.
The power play goal was Parise first point in the series and it gave the Devils a 1-0 lead. It also was New Jersey's first power play goal in 16 chances against Los Angeles in this series.
That lead would last until just over three minutes into the 2nd period when Kings forward Justin Williams got Los Angeles on the board with a wrist shot.
Williams hit the post with a shot earlier in the game. Watching him skate you just felt that he was due for a goal in this game.
The tie would last until just after the nine minute mark of the 2nd period when a shot by New Jersey defenseman Bryce Salvador would take a Devils bounce and get by Quick, giving them the lead.
The puck deflected off the shoulder of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov. It's the second time in this series a puck has deflected off of Voynov resulting in a New Jersey goal.
With the Devils in the lead it was time for goaltender Martin Brodeur to take control of the game and that's exactly what he did. Brodeur had 25 saves with his best being this stop on Kings forward Jarrett Stoll.
That right there is vintage Brodeur.
New Jersey would hold on to win 2-1, forcing a game six back in Los Angeles Monday night.
If you are a Kings fan it's too early to panic as Los Angeles is still in control of the series and can win the cup Monday night on home ice. If you presented that scenario to any Kings player before the series started they would take it.
However it looks like New Jersey has found a way to overcome the Kings forecheck that was suffocating them early in the series. More importantly the Devils are finding ways to get the puck by Quick.
New Jersey isn't putting many pucks past Quick but when you have Brodeur in net you only need to score a couple to have a chance to win.
Going into game five I thought the Devils had a puncher's chance in the series. They are still throwing punches and they are now landing them. If Los Angeles is to win the cup they better do it on Monday night.
The last thing the Kings want to do is travel to Newark on Wednesday for a game seven.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Devils Survive, Force Game Five.
On June 4th, 1967 the Los Angeles Kings selected the first player in franchise history in the expansion draft. 45 years to the day the Kings had the chance to win their first Stanley Cup.
That wait will have to last until at least Saturday.
In a game they needed to win the New Jersey Devils were able to force a game five with a 3-1 win last night at Staples Center.
New Jersey started strong like they did in games two and three but couldn't solve Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. As the second period went along it felt like it was only a matter of time before Los Angeles scored the first goal of the game.
Thanks to Martin Brodeur the game was scoreless until the 3rd period where New Jersey was finally able to get one past Quick.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time. That goal by Elias gave the Devils their first lead in the series. The lead would only last for one minute as David Clarkson would take a questionable boarding penalty.
That would put Los Angeles on the power play where Drew Doughty would score to tie the game.
Mark my words, Doughty will be the best defenseman in the NHL within the next three years.
With that goal it looked like the Kings were ready to take charge of the game and the celebration would begin with the next goal. The next goal never came for Los Angeles. Instead it came from the stick of Devils rookie Adam Henrique.
Only 22 years old and the kid is pure money.
New Jersey would add an empty net goal to clinch a 3-1 victory and send the finals back to Newark for a game five Saturday night.
Now if you are a Kings fan you are disappointed Los Angeles wasn't able to close the series out on home ice but you are confident going into game five.
The Kings have played in two games five this post-season after being up 3-0. They won both of those in overtime to close out the series. If the trend holds true then tomorrow night Los Angeles fans should be able to celebrate.
However one thing to keep in mind about New Jersey is they are 9-1 this post-season in games four through seven. And while the chances of coming back to win the series after losing the first three games is pretty slim there is one player on the Devils roster that has done it.
That would be Henrique who was on the Windsor Spitfires when they came back from 3-0 down in the OHL playoffs to win their series against Kitchner en route to winning the 2010 Memorial Cup.
Now granted coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the OHL is different than doing it in the NHL but it only has to happen once for players to believe it can happen again. If New Jersey needs any more inspiration to rally and win the series all they have to do is look across the Kings bench.
Simon Gagne, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were all on the 2010 Philadelphia Flyer team that rallied from 3-0 down to win their playoff series against Boston.
The Devils proved on Wednesday they won't go down without a fight. Everything was against them going into game four and they found a way to win. The scenario will be the same for game five with the only thing different being the venue.
Tomorrow night a win by Los Angeles gives them the Stanley Cup. A win by New Jersey however gives them another game to play this season.
After being down 3-0 in the series I think all Devils fans would take that scenario if presented to them.
That wait will have to last until at least Saturday.
In a game they needed to win the New Jersey Devils were able to force a game five with a 3-1 win last night at Staples Center.
New Jersey started strong like they did in games two and three but couldn't solve Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. As the second period went along it felt like it was only a matter of time before Los Angeles scored the first goal of the game.
Thanks to Martin Brodeur the game was scoreless until the 3rd period where New Jersey was finally able to get one past Quick.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time. That goal by Elias gave the Devils their first lead in the series. The lead would only last for one minute as David Clarkson would take a questionable boarding penalty.
That would put Los Angeles on the power play where Drew Doughty would score to tie the game.
Mark my words, Doughty will be the best defenseman in the NHL within the next three years.
With that goal it looked like the Kings were ready to take charge of the game and the celebration would begin with the next goal. The next goal never came for Los Angeles. Instead it came from the stick of Devils rookie Adam Henrique.
Only 22 years old and the kid is pure money.
New Jersey would add an empty net goal to clinch a 3-1 victory and send the finals back to Newark for a game five Saturday night.
Now if you are a Kings fan you are disappointed Los Angeles wasn't able to close the series out on home ice but you are confident going into game five.
The Kings have played in two games five this post-season after being up 3-0. They won both of those in overtime to close out the series. If the trend holds true then tomorrow night Los Angeles fans should be able to celebrate.
However one thing to keep in mind about New Jersey is they are 9-1 this post-season in games four through seven. And while the chances of coming back to win the series after losing the first three games is pretty slim there is one player on the Devils roster that has done it.
That would be Henrique who was on the Windsor Spitfires when they came back from 3-0 down in the OHL playoffs to win their series against Kitchner en route to winning the 2010 Memorial Cup.
Now granted coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the OHL is different than doing it in the NHL but it only has to happen once for players to believe it can happen again. If New Jersey needs any more inspiration to rally and win the series all they have to do is look across the Kings bench.
Simon Gagne, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were all on the 2010 Philadelphia Flyer team that rallied from 3-0 down to win their playoff series against Boston.
The Devils proved on Wednesday they won't go down without a fight. Everything was against them going into game four and they found a way to win. The scenario will be the same for game five with the only thing different being the venue.
Tomorrow night a win by Los Angeles gives them the Stanley Cup. A win by New Jersey however gives them another game to play this season.
After being down 3-0 in the series I think all Devils fans would take that scenario if presented to them.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
One Win From The Cup.
Going into game three one thing was certain, The New Jersey Devils had to win.
It didn't matter how many goals they scored or how much they won by. New Jersey just had to find a way to win the game or else they would be facing certain elimination.
In the 1st period of game three the Devils had a jump in their skates similar to game two where they had quality scoring chances. Much like game two New Jersey was unable to get any pucks past goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Watching this game unfold it felt like whoever scored the first goal was going to win game three. Cue Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez.
Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur argued the play should have been whistled dead because he had the puck covered. Referee Dan O'Halloran never lost sight of the puck allowing the play to continue. The end result a 1-0 lead for the Kings.
While I felt the first goal was important the next goal was just as critical. If New Jersey got it we have a tie game and the possibility of overtime playing out like it did in the first two games.
If Los Angeles scores then it's a two goal lead and they are in complete control of the game. Cue Kings forward Anze Kopitar.
Just think, The Minnesota Wild passed on Kopitar for Benoit Pouliot.
Now I know a two goal lead is referred to as the most dangerous lead in hockey. However with the way Los Angeles has played the last two months this game was all but wrapped up. The only thing missing was an insurance goal. Cue Kings forward Jeff Carter.
Seeing Carter succeed in the finals has to drive fans in Philadelphia and Columbus nuts.
Well on their way to victory Los Angeles would add another power play goal by Justin Williams to make it 4-0.
I honestly thought New Jersey would put up a better fight in this series. While they had a chance to win both games in Newark the Devils have been outplayed by the Kings throughout all three games.
At this point the only question isn't whose going to win the cup, it's how many games will it take. History favors the Kings. Being up 3-0 I don't see anyway Los Angeles loses this series.
This is the fourth series this post-season where the Kings have had a 3-0 lead. Two of those series have went five games while one went four. If that trend holds this series should be over no later than Saturday.
Whether this series ends in a sweep or New Jersey forces a game five remains to be seen but there is one thing I know for sure.
On Wednesday night the cup will be in the building.
It didn't matter how many goals they scored or how much they won by. New Jersey just had to find a way to win the game or else they would be facing certain elimination.
In the 1st period of game three the Devils had a jump in their skates similar to game two where they had quality scoring chances. Much like game two New Jersey was unable to get any pucks past goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Watching this game unfold it felt like whoever scored the first goal was going to win game three. Cue Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez.
Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur argued the play should have been whistled dead because he had the puck covered. Referee Dan O'Halloran never lost sight of the puck allowing the play to continue. The end result a 1-0 lead for the Kings.
While I felt the first goal was important the next goal was just as critical. If New Jersey got it we have a tie game and the possibility of overtime playing out like it did in the first two games.
If Los Angeles scores then it's a two goal lead and they are in complete control of the game. Cue Kings forward Anze Kopitar.
Just think, The Minnesota Wild passed on Kopitar for Benoit Pouliot.
Now I know a two goal lead is referred to as the most dangerous lead in hockey. However with the way Los Angeles has played the last two months this game was all but wrapped up. The only thing missing was an insurance goal. Cue Kings forward Jeff Carter.
Seeing Carter succeed in the finals has to drive fans in Philadelphia and Columbus nuts.
Well on their way to victory Los Angeles would add another power play goal by Justin Williams to make it 4-0.
I honestly thought New Jersey would put up a better fight in this series. While they had a chance to win both games in Newark the Devils have been outplayed by the Kings throughout all three games.
At this point the only question isn't whose going to win the cup, it's how many games will it take. History favors the Kings. Being up 3-0 I don't see anyway Los Angeles loses this series.
This is the fourth series this post-season where the Kings have had a 3-0 lead. Two of those series have went five games while one went four. If that trend holds this series should be over no later than Saturday.
Whether this series ends in a sweep or New Jersey forces a game five remains to be seen but there is one thing I know for sure.
On Wednesday night the cup will be in the building.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Carter, Richards Paying Off For Los Angeles
Last June the Philadelphia Flyers made two separate trades that caught the hockey world by surprise.
Determined to upgrade their goaltending the Flyers signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine year contract worth $51 million dollars. As a result two trades were made to make room for Bryzgalov's contract under the salary cap.
The first deal was Philadelphia sending forward Jeff Carter to Columbus for forward Jakub Voracek, a 1st round pick, who ended up being forward Sean Couturier, and a 3rd round pick.
The second deal was the Flyers sending captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles for forwards Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a 2nd round pick.
Those two trades would end up making an impact in the Stanley Cup Finals but not in a way any hockey fan would expect.
Philadelphia would reach the 2nd round of the playoffs where they would win one game before being eliminated by New Jersey. It's one game better than the previous season with the result being the same.
Columbus would start the season by losing their first eight games. The Blue Jackets struggles would result in Carter being traded for the second time in eight months as he would go to Los Angeles for defenseman Jack Johnson and a 1st round draft pick.
As for the Kings, the acquisitions Richards last June followed by reuniting him with Carter in February have Los Angeles two wins away from their first Stanley Cup.
Carter has five goals this post-season which is tied with Dwight King for second on the team. His latest goal just happened to be a game winner in overtime.
You have to admire the skill and patience by Carter to circle around and maintain possession of the puck as he waits for his shot.
Richards is tied for the on the Kings in scoring with 11 points (4G, 7A) More importantly his two way play and ability to forecheck is frustrating the Devils forward and making New Jersey's top two lines non-existent.
Watching Richards play in the playoffs two years ago I thought he was the best penalty killer on the planet. Watching him this post-season I think he might be the best two way forward in the game.
There are plenty of reasons why Los Angeles is two wins away from their first Stanley Cup. Carter and Richards are just two of them. However without those two, I don't think there would be a hockey game in June tomorrow night at Staples Center.
Determined to upgrade their goaltending the Flyers signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine year contract worth $51 million dollars. As a result two trades were made to make room for Bryzgalov's contract under the salary cap.
The first deal was Philadelphia sending forward Jeff Carter to Columbus for forward Jakub Voracek, a 1st round pick, who ended up being forward Sean Couturier, and a 3rd round pick.
The second deal was the Flyers sending captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles for forwards Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a 2nd round pick.
Those two trades would end up making an impact in the Stanley Cup Finals but not in a way any hockey fan would expect.
Philadelphia would reach the 2nd round of the playoffs where they would win one game before being eliminated by New Jersey. It's one game better than the previous season with the result being the same.
Columbus would start the season by losing their first eight games. The Blue Jackets struggles would result in Carter being traded for the second time in eight months as he would go to Los Angeles for defenseman Jack Johnson and a 1st round draft pick.
As for the Kings, the acquisitions Richards last June followed by reuniting him with Carter in February have Los Angeles two wins away from their first Stanley Cup.
Carter has five goals this post-season which is tied with Dwight King for second on the team. His latest goal just happened to be a game winner in overtime.
You have to admire the skill and patience by Carter to circle around and maintain possession of the puck as he waits for his shot.
Richards is tied for the on the Kings in scoring with 11 points (4G, 7A) More importantly his two way play and ability to forecheck is frustrating the Devils forward and making New Jersey's top two lines non-existent.
Watching Richards play in the playoffs two years ago I thought he was the best penalty killer on the planet. Watching him this post-season I think he might be the best two way forward in the game.
There are plenty of reasons why Los Angeles is two wins away from their first Stanley Cup. Carter and Richards are just two of them. However without those two, I don't think there would be a hockey game in June tomorrow night at Staples Center.
Friday, June 1, 2012
The Best Defenseman Of My Lifetime.
It takes a big story in the hockey world to put the Stanley Cup Finals on the back page.
Yesterday one of those stories happened.
A day that every Detroit Red Wings fan has been dreading for the last few years finally came when defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom called it a career.
Referred to many as "The Perfect Human" Lidstrom was drafted by Detroit in the 3rd round of the 1989 NHL Draft. He would join the Red Wings in 1991. In his twenty year career he would never miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In fact there were only three playoff series in his career where Detroit didn't win a game.
Lidstrom's statement for deciding to retire after 20 years went as followed.
"At some point in time, it catches up to everyone, it diminishes their
ability to perform some things you love and care about passionately. It
comes to an end sooner than what you would have liked. The last few
years, I waited until after the season was over to assess my ability to
play another year. I need to let a few weeks go by to get a reading on
my body’s ability to recover from the grind of an NHL season. Sadly,
this year it’s painfully obvious to me that my strength and energy
levels are not rebounding enough for me to continue to play. My drive
and motivation are not where they need to be to play at this level.
That’s why I feel like it’s time to retire."
As for his career Lidstrom retires with Seven Norris Trophies, Four Stanley Cups, One Conn Smythe Award and an Olympic Gold Medal. He is a lock for the Hockey Hall Of Fame three years from now.
When asked about my favorite memory of Lidstrom the first thing that always comes to mind is the goal he scored in game four of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals.
That goal gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead. Detroit would never trail in the game as they went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years.
The other memory of Lidstrom that would stand out in my mind is in 2008. In a salary cap era where many thought Detroit would be at a disadvantage, the Red Wings defeated Pittsburgh in six games to win their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years. Lidstrom was the captain of that team and would become the first European player to captain his team to a Stanley Cup.
A friend asked me yesterday how are the Red Wings going to replace Lidstrom. My answer was they aren't. He was the best in the world at what he did. I have said for the last few years if I could clone one athlete it would be Nicklas Lidstrom.
As to where he ranks among the great defenseman in our game it depends who you ask.
Most people in the hockey world who I respect say Bobby Orr is the greatest defenseman of all time. Having never seen Orr play I won't say they are wrong.
I did have the privilege of watch Lidstrom play for 20 years. To me he is the greatest defenseman in my lifetime and I have a hard time thinking I will see anyone as good or better than him again as long as I watch hockey.
As a long time Red Wings fan all I can say is thank you number five. It was a pleasure watching you play.
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